VARIOUS criticisms have been levelled at the reflection group formed after last week’s College of Bishops discussion about same-sex relations. But the inclusion of conservatives and traditionalists makes sense if the group is to function as a sounding-board for any new attempt to reach agreement
THE grammar-school debate should not be about grammar schools, but about secondary modern schools, or whatever they end up being called, because selection works both ways
CHRISTIANITY is an embodied religion, and much theological energy in recent years has been expended on what it means to follow a God who “took upon himself human flesh”. One conclusion is that there can be no such thing as a disembodied religion, since the mind that dictates ascetic practices and ...
IN AN early episode of the MI5 drama Spooks, c.2004, an agent tries to talk a boy suicide-bomber out of exploding his lethal jacket. He notes that the boy is wearing an Aston Villa shirt. “Suicide is a bit extreme, even for a Villa supporter. Football is one of the better things of life — don’t leav...
RECEIVING the baton cleanly is something that women do better than men, judging by the relay finals in Rio. There was a resounding clunk from the direction of Theresa May’s office last week, however, which signalled the downplaying of a Cameron-backed campaign against junk food. The timing could no...
HERE are some names from Rio: Anita Wlodarczyk, Wayde van Niekerk, Katie Ledecky, Almaz Ayana, Katinka Hosszu. Clearly, they are not household names in the UK. Indeed, it could be argued that Valegro, Charlotte Dujardin’s horse in the dressage, is better known
Murder is not always a crime of hate
TOMORROW is the feast of the Transfiguration, which can seem to be sidelined during the holiday season when church activities are at a low ebb. But that timing may not be altogether bad. Activity is not always beneficial
THE collapse of the BHS stores, stripped of their assets during the group’s ownership by Sir Philip Green, has brought to the fore the Prime Minister’s pledge to tackle the unequal treatment of rich and poor in this country. Responding to a damning report by a joint committee of MPs into the demise ...
THE axiom that a week is a long time in politics has been demonstrated repeatedly to the point of extravagance over the past month
A new PM
THE only person who appeared not to be surprised by Theresa May’s move to Downing Street was Mrs May herself. Her understated, unruffled exterior really does seem to disguise an unruffled interior. There are few more reliable indicators of character than the testimonies of co-workers, espec...